Manchester Canals & the Cheshire Ring

British Waterways Inland Canal Navigations - the Cheshire Ring

A popular holiday narrowboat canal cruise taking about a week to complete, the so-called "Cheshire Ring" takes in several regional canal systems and runs right through the heart of Manchester. It is a cruise of many contrasts, from the rural countryside of the Cheshire plain, the historic Bridgewater Canal, the beautiful remoteness of the Macclesfiield Canal, Heartbreak Hill on the Trent & Mersey Canal with its long flight of locks and the Rochdal Canal as it clinbs through the under belly of city centre Manchester with ample opportunities to witness its industrial archaeology and heritage.

This circular route along 5 navigable canals owned by British Waterways, (and 1 other, the Bridgewater Canal, which is not a BW canal although it does allow free access to BW registered boats). The Ring is 97 miles long, has 92 locks and takes about 50 hours cruising time. As a circular route, it is a favourite with hire boaters, as it brings them back to the base starting point, easily within a week.
It covers the Macclesfield Canal, the Upper & Lower Peak Forest Canals, the Rochdale Canal, the Ashton Canal, the Bridgewater Canal, and a part of the Trent & Mersey Canal. From Worsley, it also offers access to Leigh and Wigan via the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.
The cruise takes in most of the county of Cheshire, (hence the name) as well as driving directly through Manchester city centre, and entering the Peak District National Park towards Whaley Bridge. These stark contrasts, no doubt, are essential factors in its popularity.

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